Industry: Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Mfg (NAICS 3114)
NAICS process:
311411 Frozen Fruit and Vegetables
311421 Canned Fruit and Vegetables
311422 Canned Specialty Products
311423 Dried and Dehydrated Products
Process Brief: Moisture in fruits and vegetables is removed using hot air.
Energy source: Steam/Natural gas
Energy Intensity: High compared to other driers
Bin driers are used for drying fruits and vegetables, such as squash, that are strong and have relatively low moisture content. The bins are large cylindrical or rectangular vessels that use heated air blown up through a wire mesh bottom. The air movement is relatively slow and the driers are often used as a finishing step. The bin driers operate in batch mode. Because a large quantity of product is piled together, moisture levels can equalize and the drier can act as a buffer between other driers and packaging. The vegetable must be strong to withstand the stress of being compressed under several feet of product.
Manufacturers
Commercial Dehydrator Systems, Inc
256 Bethel Drive
Eugene, Oregon 97402
Telephone: 800-369-4283
Web site: www.dryer.com